Leipzig Drone Incident: Russia’s Foreign Minister Calls German Accusations the “Beginning of a Real War”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described Germany’s accusations over an attempted bomb attack at Leipzig airport as the “beginning of a real war,” sharply escalating an already tense dispute.

A drone carrying an explosive device was found near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August. No explosion occurred, and two more drones were later discovered. After a four-week review, the German government attributed the attempted attack to Russian intelligence services in early September.

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The beginning of a real war.

Germany believes it has become a target of covert operations by Russian intelligence because of its support for Ukraine. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the attribution was “very clear, indisputable, and also legally conclusive.” He said the government had taken four weeks to examine the case before drawing its conclusion.

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It is, in effect, a declaration of war against us.

Russia rejected the German accusations as baseless and accused Berlin of fabricating evidence. Lavrov told Russian state television that officials had found a drone and called it Russian without resolving the matter. He said that was, in effect, the beginning of a real war.

Lavrov also compared German sanctions, including the closure of Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and its cultural institute in Berlin, with the start of the Second World War. He said statements by Merz about making Germany Europe’s leading military power were now being put into practice and amounted to a declaration of war against Russia.

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The attribution is very clear, indisputable, and also legally conclusive.

Merz said Germany had drawn the right conclusions and issued a clear warning. “Anyone who attacks us must know that we are firmly determined to defend our constitutional state, our democracy, our open society, and the integrity of our territory,” he said. Germany and other Western states have for years accused Russia of waging hybrid warfare through disinformation campaigns and attacks, including killings allegedly carried out on Russia’s behalf.

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Anyone who attacks us must know that we are firmly determined to defend our constitutional state, our democracy, our open society, and the integrity of our territory.